Flashback… several years ago…

"Still bland…"

Defeated, Yang put down the fork into the steaming bowl full of yellow noodles. It'd been about an hour since she started preparing the dish when it should have taken half that time. It wasn't perfect. And it was never going to be perfect.

It was simple macaroni and cheese. A dish anyone could make. She didn't even like mac and cheese that much. The only reason she made it was for her baby sister. It didn't taste the same as it normally did when they ate it.

Determined, Yang sprinkled some salt onto the noodles and tasted it again.

"Agh!" Yang clutched her hair in frustration. "Why can't I get it to taste like her's?!"

According to her sister, Summer made the best mac and cheese in the world. Recently, Ruby had been depressed. Probably because in a few days, it would be the anniversary of her mother's passing. Not only her, but Raven and Taiyang as well.

She had to get this right, but Summer's cooking was phenomenal. She paled in comparison.

After a heavy sigh, Yang leaned onto the counter.

"Come on… I gotta get it right for her…"

Unintentionally, her voice cracked in misery. If she could provide her sister with a little comfort, she would. But right now, she felt like she was utterly failing to be there for her.

Little did she know, her uncle lingered in the room with her. He sat on the couch, watching her with interest.

"Copying Summer's cooking is like teaching a fish how to fly."

Even more frustrated, Yang sent him a frown. "Thanks for the encouragement, Qrow."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Qrow said solemnly as he crossed his arms. "Anything you make, Ruby will love."

Yang gripped the counter tightly. "That's not the point. The one thing Ruby remembers Summer by is her food. If I can't at least give her that, then what good am I?"

"You're firecracker," Qrow reminded knowingly. "As long as Ruby has you, she's gonna be okay."

That made Yang scoff. "I'm not good enough. I'm not her mom."

To smack some sense into her, Qrow stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Even better, you're her sister."

Unbeknownst to Yang, tears dribbled down her cheeks. She only noticed that when Qrow gingerly smoothed them away.

"I know it's really hard- being strong for her- I mean," Qrow said evenly. "But you have emotions too, so if you gotta let 'em out, you do it, got it?"

For about a year, Yang felt like a robot. When they died, she took up the household duties. Qrow moved in to become their legal guardian. Since their deaths, an aura of depression lingered over their tiny home in Patch, refusing to dissipate. Everything changed. It would never be the same.

"I will," the blonde agreed through the tears and she sniffled. "The same goes for you. You can't keep drinking and expect to magically feel better."

"In the long run, it doesn't help, I know," he admitted gloomily. "But it does numb the pain sometimes."

After all, Qrow lost a sister and his best friends. Yang couldn't imagine what it'd be like if she lost Ruby. Especially with the way they were murdered.

After Yang sniffled, she wiped her tears away again. "Don't go overboard. That would only make Ruby sadder."

In the days just after their deaths, Qrow drank himself under the table. It was a common occurrence for the siblings to find him passed out on the floor and reeking of alcohol. The last couple of months, he was sober more often. But the anniversary coming up tempted him.

"I'm trying not to anymore," Qrow reassured and sent her a sad smile. "I admit, it's tempting."

Suddenly, there was a sharp inhale behind them. They whirled around to see a giddy Ruby.

"It smells so good in here!" Ruby chirped and darted into the kitchen. "What'dyamakewhat'dyamakewhat'dyamake?"

Hastily, Yang whirled around so her sister couldn't see her tearful eyes. A red encompassed them from the sadness. Despite that, her voice was chipper.

"I attempted mac and cheese-"

Before Yang could finish her sentence, Ruby dramatically stole a large bite.

"Ohmygoshit'ssogood! Did you make it for me?"

It was obvious that Ruby was only trying to cheer her up. Which left Yang to nod.

"Yeah."

"Thanks, sis," Ruby said sincerely.

Even though Ruby wolfed down all the noodles, Yang had a nagging feeling.

It's not the same.

Nothing ever would be.


"Uncle Qroooooooow!"

Until know, Qrow was enjoying a peaceful walk in the backyard. Before he could whirl around, Ruby slammed into his back. This knocked them over onto the green grass.

"You gotta stop trying to kill me," Qrow groaned as he rolled over.

"Sorry not sorry," Ruby said smugly.

"Rubes!" Yang chided as she sprinted over to the pair. "If you keep that up, he'll have a heart attack!"

"Oops," Ruby mumbled.

"I'm not old!" Qrow quipped and leaned up. "Anyways, why are you so excited?"

Suspicious, Yang leered over her sister. "You're more energetic more than usual. Even for you."

Confidently, Ruby placed her hands on her hips. "I've decided that we're going to set sail."

Over time, she noticed that her family wasn't feeling any better after the deaths that changed everything. A change of scenery and atmosphere could be good for them. And if not, they could come right back to Patch.

"We're not," Qrow retorted. "That's too much of a hassle."

"Why not?" Ruby asked and tilted her head like a curious puppy. "Mom left the Howling Thorn to me. I can do what I want with it."

"That's too much work and you're not going alone," Qrow said in finality.

For a bit, Yang processed the suggestion. She didn't see why not. As long as it put a smile on her baby sister's face, she was all for it.

With a grin, the blonde swung an arm around her sister's shoulders. "I'll go with her."

Frustrated, Qrow rubbed the back of his head. "So you're both troublemakers now?"

"I think it'd be good for us," Yang said genuinely. "Things aren't getting any better in the house. It's been all gloomy for a year now."

"You guys don't even know how to steer a ship!"

Ruby adorned a smug grin. "But you do."

"No, hell no."

Together, the sisters mustered up the cutest puppy faces. Lilac and silver eyes twinkled like they were begging for measly scraps of food.

Qrow only glared at them. Overall, he could see their point. Truth was, he didn't want to live in that house. Every nook and cranny reminded him of his fallen friends. Maybe some time away would do them some good.

"Fine, but I have some conditions," Qrow said.

"Yes!" the sisters cheered in unison.

"First, tone back being such troublemakers. Second, we make stops for my mead. And third, when one of us wants to go back to Patch, we all do. Got it?"

"Fair enough," Yang accepted.

They didn't know how long they planned to be on the sea. They could love life on the sea, or it could backfire on them. Either way, going home was always a solution.

"I accept these terms," Ruby chirped. "Also, I'm going to learn how to wield a scythe. Any objections?" she waited for a split-second before continuing. "No? Good!"

From that, Yang's jaw almost dropped. She should have never supplied her sister with weapons magazines, or let her watch Qrow spar with his scythe.

"I have another condition!" Qrow exclaimed.

"Too late!"


Here it is, the reason they set sail! Oddly enough, this was the last chapter I wrote from the entire fic. For pacing reasons.

Stay dandy,

~Toto